NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

by **Divine Cervine** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:15 pm

Issue #597

You Can’t Handle The Tooth

The Issue

A few days ago you needed triple root-canal surgery, and despite your codeine-enhanced prescription you’re still in agony. However, your dentist has refused to prescribe anything stronger! You’re now back for your check-up, wondering if it’s time to think about relaxing the regulations around the most powerful painkillers.

The Debate

1. Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, your personal dental care professional, sits down on a stool next to you, and lowers the back of the chair to the horizontal. “Open, please? Good. I’m sorry @@LEADER@@, but you know the drill. Easier access to narcotics will only lead to more widespread abuse. In reality, many pain ‘patients’ are just junkies looking for a fix. The primary purpose of medicine is to cure disease, not to enable addiction! Instead, consider adjusting healthcare policy to stress cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and other non-pharmacological interventions. Spit, please?”

2. “ummm**HUUURP**..uh, yuck,” says Dental Nurse @@RANDOMNAME@@, who you know is also a spokesperson for Patients Against Interdicting Narcotics, while emptying a recently-soiled emesis dish into the medical waste sluice. “Yeah, that’s precisely the wrong thing to do. Insufficient treatment of pain is very common, especially among women, ethnic minorities, and the poor. The elderly are also at risk, since many wrongly think that pain is just a ‘normal’ part of aging. The most severe cases can even drive people to suicide! Medicine should focus on quality of life, not just curing disease. Do the right thing, and ease restrictions on powerful painkillers now!”

3. While you’re still supine, a strange pale-skinned man shines the dentist’s lamp directly into your eyes and begins loading a large metal syringe from an unmarked vial. “I have your solution right here, dear leader. Why not add these powerful painkillers to the water supply, under the banner of a new healthcare initiative aimed at relieving stress and improving quality of life? Then you can use mass addiction to control the population! A particular district doesn’t like your new absolutist platform? Just reduce their ‘pain relief’ until they do! Imagine the whole populace desperately begging you for another hit!”

Issue by The Federated Social Experiments of A Humanist Science
Edited by Nation of Quebec

by **Noahs Second Country** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 9:03 am

I had issue #599, but forgot to copy paste it to this thread. It had to do with the right to view explicit content or something.

by **Candlewhisper Archive** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 9:15 am

Noahs Second Country wrote:I had issue #599, but forgot to copy paste it to this thread. It had to do with the right to view explicit content or something.

You're mistaken. #599 doesn't exist yet, and your last two issues were 373 and 474.

by **Xynlandia** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 12:47 am

Options 2, 4, and 6 of issue 596

2. “I’m the eldest child, so I should get the throne!” shouts Prince Aaron, who has a reputation for being completely undiplomatic. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a man. I should have the same rights as a woman to the throne. Why should the crown pass over me because of my genitals? It’s arcane! I mean, having a monarchy is arcane too, but never mind that...”

4. “Don’t be so preposterous!” splutters dusty old courtier Rey Coulson as she pulls out an even dustier family tree of the royal family which trails on the floor. “Generations of proud, strong queens have ruled this land with conviction and certainty! That’s why the country has done so well for so long. It’s clear that men should not be allowed to succeed the throne. They’re much too emotional. Besides, do you really want the Prince meeting other heads of state? Women think with their heads and hearts; men think with their...” She shudders.

6. “We need a radical reshaping of our country’s power structure!” bellows crazed usurper Ali McKinnon as he brandishes a blade at the terrified female courtier’s décolletage. “For too long the matriarchy has oppressed us and denied us our natural rights to rule! Ensure that only men may inherit the throne! We shall usher in a golden age of masculine supremacy!” The courtier shrieks as he accidentally cuts her frock in excitement.

by **Copercia** » Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:05 pm

The Issue

Rumors tell that the Order of Violet has infiltrated schools in Copercia to brainwash the youngest generations. Fears of Violetist takeover have prompted all other faiths to unite for the first time ever.

The Debate

1. “Preposterous!” dismisses Justin Song, the head of the Copercia City District School Board, while hiding an Order of Violet signet ring. “Our schools are performing well, and the children are merely learning to understand different points of view. The only hatred I see is from the hypocrites and paranoid kooks who have no problems forcing their values on our innocent children.”

2. “Terrorists! Terrorists everywhere!” shouts Bill Coulson, a controversial and xenophobic politician, who inevitably tries to win every debate by claiming all opposing views equate to supporting terrorism. “Screen all teachers, headmasters, and aides for possible Violetist ties. Force the schools to adopt an unapologetic pro-Copercian curriculum. We all know these Violetists hate everything Copercia stands for! Anyone who disagrees is a terrorist-sympathizing, Violetist-loving, traitor!”

3. “That doesn’t go far enough,” claims the leader of The Tranquility of Yellow, an ancient religion that has a just as ancient feud with Violetism. “These heretics have been a danger ever since the Grand Schism, and they must be dealt with accordingly. I suggest we start up an inquisition. My people will find these Violetists, and see if they can be converted to our true religion or renounce their faith. Whichever one the government prefers. We’re not picky. If not... the stake. BURN THEM ALL! Or hang them. Just get rid of those creepy Violetists, okay?”

4. “What are we? Barbarians?” queries popular agnostic speaker Elizabeth McKinnon, whose personal motto is ‘Question Everything’. “I don’t see anything wrong with teaching Violetism. Not every Violetist is some crazed wacko, you know. However, schools should teach all different faiths, including non-belief, in a neutral and understanding way in the interest of fairness. If we want to eliminate hatred, the schools are a good place to start.”

Issue by The Pinktastic Coffee Loving Grand Dutchy Queendom of the Most Magnificent Moddess of Crazy girl

Edited by Nation of Quebec

by **Maljaratas** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:24 am

Option 3 of Issue 180 has been changed slightly:
“I don’t believe they’re harmful either,” says Luigi Zhimo, a teacher. “But it’s obvious to everyone what a detrimental effect it has on our children! Everywhere I look, I’m seeing children as young as four tapping away at the blasted things! Do you know how many lessons I’ve had interrupted by the ‘Crazy Kraken’ ringtone, or by little Timmy saying there’s a collectable Pokeachew under my desk? Do you know how many of my pupils think ‘great’ is spelled with a number? Too many! Only adults should be allowed to own and use mobile phones!”

by **Rainbow Mewni** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 11:24 am

Pencil Sharpeners 2 wrote:Looks like there's a lot of extra options to find here.

My nation is a matriarchy and I just got that issue only with all the genders swapped.

The Issue

Due to the reigning monarch’s lack of heirs, which could conceivably cause a succession crisis, the aristocratic elite have begun to question the ancient law of primogeniture.

The Debate

“I’m the eldest child, so I should get the throne!” shouts Prince Gary, who has a reputation for being completely undiplomatic. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a man. I should have the same rights as a woman to the throne. Why should the crown pass over me because of my genitals? It’s arcane! I mean, having a monarchy is arcane too, but never mind that...”

“Don’t be so preposterous!” splutters dusty old courtier Mia Márquez as she pulls out an even dustier family tree of the royal family which trails on the floor. “Generations of proud, strong queens have ruled this land with conviction and certainty! That’s why the country has done so well for so long. It’s clear that men should not be allowed to succeed the throne. They’re much too emotional. Besides, do you really want the Prince meeting other heads of state? Women think with their heads and hearts; men think with their...” She shudders.

“We need a radical reshaping of our country’s power structure!” bellows crazed usurper Ben Only as he brandishes a blade at the terrified female courtier’s décolletage. “For too long the matriarchy has oppressed us and denied us our natural rights to rule! Ensure that only men may inherit the throne! We shall usher in a golden age of masculine supremacy!” The courtier shrieks as he accidentally cuts her frock in excitement.

“All this nonsense about succession has got me thinking,” says Stephanie Yeats, esquire, who is 456,789th in line for the throne. “Does the monarchy actually serve a purpose anymore? Seems to me that it would just be cheaper to not have a head of state at all. Royalty mostly exist today for photo ops, anyways.”

by **Divine Cervine** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 8:58 pm

Issue #600

by **Drasnia** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:04 pm

Damn that was a quick acceptance from submission.

by **Christian Democrats** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:25 pm

Holy crap! There are 26 issues that I need to add. :oops:

There are also a few that I need to update.

I'll try to get this done tomorrow night while I'm watching the U.S. vice presidential debate.

by **Trotterdam** » Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:02 pm

Trotterdam wrote:EDIT: On the police cameras issue, it occurred to me that the hidden option may be for nations that banned the internet. Can't live-stream your videos then.

Confirmed.

3. "Look, I'm not saying I don't trust our fine police officers," whispers transparency advocate @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Juvenal, carefully moving any weapons and sharp objects away from the tremulous police officer, "but cameras are needed not just to support police testimony but also to protect the public from police excesses. The only way they can serve that dual purpose is if the police don't control the cameras. Have 24/7 cameras on every police vehicle, surveillance drones following cops on patrol, all the taped footage put into an open-access public archive. That way, we can keep an eye on those jackbooted th... uh... on our valued law enforcement officials."

Differs from option 2 only in that "all the footage streamed live on the internet, and stored on an open-access cloud" is replaced with "all the taped footage put into an open-access public archive" (and the effect line is different, of course).

by **Karthalas** » Wed Oct 05, 2016 6:57 am

#601: Lawyers On Trial

The Issue

Notorious gangster Johnny ‘Stab-Stab’ Merkel was recently found ‘not guilty’ on multiple charges leveled against him, despite a broad expectation from citizens and the media that he would be convicted. Experts are saying that the surprising result was the consequence of Johnny hiring the very best private defence lawyers, while the prosecution was led by an inexperienced and overworked public prosecutor who was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open through the case.

The Debate

1. “Zzzzzz... Huh? What? Wasafargit blarg?” garbles public prosecutor Ivan Anap, as you nudge him into wakefulness. “Uh... Look, I’ve done a bad job, clearly. But have you seen my case load? I gotta represent the downtrodden masses and the... wossname... penniless crowds. The system deserves more money, so we can get better public servants, and so I can get some... some... slee...” He collapses, face-first onto the floor.

2. “Don’t mind Rip Van Winkle here,” growls ‘Filthy’ Harold Callahan, a cop with little love for lawyers, kicking the sleeping attorney in the gut. “All these ‘public servants’ are doing is clogging up the system, and keeping justice from being served. I say scrap the system entirely and keep honest taxpayers from paying for the bureaucracy of criminality. Let people hire their fancy-schmancy punk lawyers if they want to, but don’t make ME pay for those bottom-feeding scum. Let’s have less talk and more justice.”

3. “That’s ridiculous, obviously,” says government minister Justitia Caecus, as she searches for a pair of dropped contact lenses. “Public defenders and prosecutors are obviously something we can’t afford to lose. But why not go further? Why not have every individual be assigned state representation only, regardless of financial standing? That would go a long way toward promoting true justice within our nation. Sure, the lawyers might complain that you’ll be making them public servants on a public service wage, but don’t we care about fairness and justice?”

4. “But still, it won’t be truly fair, will it?” muses futurist Diana Moon. “Even randomly allocated lawyers will vary in ability. I’ve been reading about something called Vonnegut-handicapping: using external devices to create equality of ability. Allow both private and state-funded lawyers, but fit them with a shock collar that gives them distracting electrical shocks throughout a court case. The greater their recorded success rate, the more often they will receive shocks. That way, everyone will eventually receive the same level of expertise in their legal counsel. Flawless logic, correct?”

_{Issue by Tzarsgrad
Edited by Candlewhisper Archive}

by **Suggestive Themes** » Wed Oct 05, 2016 8:09 am

Wait, nobody's posted #599 yet?
Here it is, if you know what I mean.

#599: Dead In The Water

The Issue

Massive fertilizer-fueled algae blooms in the South @@ANIMAL@@ Sea are quickly depleting aquatic oxygen levels and suffocating marine life. Vaguely aware of this fact, you are on a poorly-planned fishing trip in the South @@ANIMAL@@ Sea arranged by the Ministry of Agriculture. The fishing expedition is intended to impress foreign dignitaries, but you can’t help but notice that there are more strategic locales for a PR stunt, areas that aren’t a sickly brown color. All the same, you cast a line into the water, and a few seconds later the fishing rod bends and flexes wildly.

The Debate

1. “That must be a big piece of garbage. There’s no way you’ll catch any fish in that dead water.” concludes Stephanie McCarthy, an unabashed nihilist and CEO of DrillBabyDrill. She jabs a finger at the open sea, adding, “This proves that it’s high time to give up on environmental regulation altogether. If you want to squeeze some more production from this pool of filth, abolish those obsolete pollution laws hindering my offshore oil rigs. There’s nothing left to protect, after all.”

2. A hard pull on the line drags the rod out of your hands. Ingmar Bush, a retired senior captain from Something Fishy, makes a diving catch for it and wrestles with whatever is on the other end. He exclaims, “If that’s a fish, we must find out how it miraculously lives in lifeless water!” He continues to struggle with the fishing rod. “But if it’s only trash out there, then the only way to save the fishing industry - and the environment - is to strictly limit the fertilizers causing this dead zone in the first place.”

3. With a wrench and some salty language, the captain lands the ‘fish,’ a woman in a scuba suit. Floundering on deck, she fumes, “Aggh! I can’t see anything down there, with all that gunk from the estuary! Rumor has it there’s shipwrecks down there, but I’ve never seen one. Look, the problem here is chemical fertilizer run off from farms, so why not fix the problem back at the farms with better chemicals? Oblige the farmers to add chlorine bleach to the water supply in proportion to the fertilizers they use, and your rivers and seas will boast crystal clear water!”

Issue by Aculea
Edited by Lenyo

by **Australian rePublic** » Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:59 pm

Notorious gangster Johnny ‘Stab-Stab’ Woolf was recently found ‘not guilty’ on multiple charges leveled against him, despite a broad expectation from citizens and the media that he would be convicted. Experts are saying that the surprising result was the consequence of Johnny hiring the very best private defence lawyers, while the prosecution was led by an inexperienced and overworked public prosecutor who was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open through the case.

The Debate

“Zzzzzz... Huh? What? Wasafargit blarg?” garbles public prosecutor Ivan Anap, as you nudge him into wakefulness. “Uh... Look, I’ve done a bad job, clearly. But have you seen my case load? I gotta represent the downtrodden masses and the... wossname... penniless crowds. The system deserves more money, so we can get better public servants, and so I can get some... some... slee...” He collapses, face-first onto the floor.

Accept“Don’t mind Rip Van Winkle here,” growls ‘Filthy’ Harold Callahan, a cop with little love for lawyers, kicking the sleeping attorney in the gut. “All these ‘public servants’ are doing is clogging up the system, and keeping justice from being served. I say scrap the system entirely and keep honest taxpayers from paying for the bureaucracy of criminality. Let people hire their fancy-schmancy punk lawyers if they want to, but don’t make ME pay for those bottom-feeding scum. Let’s have less talk and more justice.”

Accept“That’s ridiculous, obviously,” says government minister Justitia Caecus, as she searches for a pair of dropped contact lenses. “Public defenders and prosecutors are obviously something we can’t afford to lose. But why not go further? Why not have every individual be assigned state representation only, regardless of financial standing? That would go a long way toward promoting true justice within our nation. Sure, the lawyers might complain that you’ll be making them public servants on a public service wage, but don’t we care about fairness and justice?”

Accept“But still, it won’t be truly fair, will it?” muses futurist Diana Moon. “Even randomly allocated lawyers will vary in ability. I’ve been reading about something called Vonnegut-handicapping: using external devices to create equality of ability. Allow both private and state-funded lawyers, but fit them with a shock collar that gives them distracting electrical shocks throughout a court case. The greater their recorded success rate, the more often they will receive shocks. That way, everyone will eventually receive the same level of expertise in their legal counsel. Flawless logic, correct?”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The Jingoistic States of Tzarsgrad

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

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by **Australian rePublic** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 1:36 am

Massive fertilizer-fueled algae blooms in the South Kangaroo Sea are quickly depleting aquatic oxygen levels and suffocating marine life. Vaguely aware of this fact, you are on a poorly-planned fishing trip in the South Kangaroo Sea arranged by the Ministry of Agriculture. The fishing expedition is intended to impress foreign dignitaries, but you can’t help but notice that there are more strategic locales for a PR stunt, areas that aren’t a sickly brown color. All the same, you cast a line into the water, and a few seconds later the fishing rod bends and flexes wildly.

The Debate

“That must be a big piece of garbage. There’s no way you’ll catch any fish in that dead water.” concludes Yoko Takei, an unabashed nihilist and CEO of DrillBabyDrill. She jabs a finger at the open sea, adding, “This proves that it’s high time to give up on environmental regulation altogether. If you want to squeeze some more production from this pool of filth, abolish those obsolete pollution laws hindering my offshore oil rigs. There’s nothing left to protect, after all.”

Accept

A hard pull on the line drags the rod out of your hands. Harry Love, a retired senior captain from Something Fishy, makes a diving catch for it and wrestles with whatever is on the other end. He exclaims, “If that’s a fish, we must find out how it miraculously lives in lifeless water!” He continues to struggle with the fishing rod. “But if it’s only trash out there, then the only way to save the fishing industry - and the environment - is to strictly limit the fertilizers causing this dead zone in the first place.”

Accept

With a wrench and some salty language, the captain lands the ‘fish,’ a woman in a scuba suit. Floundering on deck, she fumes, “Aggh! I can’t see anything down there, with all that gunk from the estuary! Rumor has it there’s shipwrecks down there, but I’ve never seen one. Look, the problem here is chemical fertilizer run off from farms, so why not fix the problem back at the farms with better chemicals? Oblige the farmers to add chlorine bleach to the water supply in proportion to the fertilizers they use, and your rivers and seas will boast crystal clear water!”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by Aculea

Edited by Lenyo

by **Drasnia** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:08 am

Issue #602: Hobby Lobby

The Issue

A recent poll has suggested that many ordinary people don’t consider national leader King Rhodar to be very ‘relatable’. Your advisers are perplexed as to the reasons why, and have suggested that taking up a hobby might boost your ratings, as well as tell the people what sort of person you are.

The Debate

“Everybody in Capitalist Paradise loves basketball,” exaggerates famed athlete Victoria Cheyney, dribbling on your carpet. “Catch! Pass it here! Look at that: Nothing but net.”

Dance instructor Jazz Steele waltzes into your office. He takes your hand and begins a foxtrot. “Isn’t this invigorating? Come, let me teach you to pirouette around delicate situations you may encounter.”

“Crikey!” nature documentarian Larry Black exclaims, creeping into your office. “What we’ve got ‘ere is a politician in its natural ‘abitat. If only it would get outside and let its wild side out, it wouldn’t have near so many national crises to deal with.”

Your niece suddenly squeals. “Look at this adorable puppy! I need to share it with my friends! Do you have a Farcebook account? It would really help connect with people and let me send you this GIF.”

Your nephew appears and rolls a set of dice on your desk. “According to my manual of Castles & Kobolds, I just rolled a 20 on my Charisma-check for you to game with me. Come on, we need a healer: got a fizzy Eckie-Cola here with your name on it.”

Flat-cap wearing Heritage Locomotive Enthusiast Louis Nahasapeemapetilon snorts in laughter at the geekiness on display. “You’ll be wantin’ a proper hobby: model engines, to show yer love of craftsmanship, and of steel, steam and smoke.”

“Just tell them your hobbies are reading, and sports, and socialising,” suggests CV-writer Michael McAlpin. “That way nobody can judge you or form conclusions about you.”

Issue by The International Spydom of Drasnia

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

by **Drasnia** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 4:18 pm

Issue 603: Not My Idea

The Issue

In the throes of an incredibly slow news cycle, the media is turning its attention on the unusual absence of copyright law in @@NAME@@. At the centre of this debate is the author of an obscure book series, who is demanding artistic justice after an online fan fiction based on his work eclipsed its inspiration in popularity.

The Debate

“This is just... uurrggghh!” slurs Jack Colbert, author of The Demon-Wizards of D’haw’e’na’wor, holding an empty bottle of scotch. “I work, nnhh, slave my whole life, put my soul into this... Only to be overshadowed by some, some half-brained teenager who... who... stole my ideas! We need copyright laws back to protect... uh... the dignity of authors!” Finishing his rant, he vomits into a nearby bucket.

“I don’t see what the big problem is, tbh,” remarks TwiliteSlaya123 in an author’s note in the latest chapter of Fifty Shades of The Demon-Wizards. “It’s just like, I wrote this, kay? Lay off plz! Imo, the government should be supporting us artists! Like by giving me money for being awesome. Next story haz Gay Gandledore setting a dozen Angel-Dragon-Goblins ablaze. 4 teh lulz.”

“There is a perfectly tolerable middle road for this issue,” says Dana Weaver, a former copyright lawyer begging for change on the street corner. “You can let people write freely, but at the same time allow for civil court claims for portions of profit, based on the contribution to the creative process the original ideas-makers have. So, if you’ve got a Demon-Wizard in there, then the author can claim a few percent; if you’ve got an orc in there, then the Tolkein estate can have a chunk, and so on. Sure, that’ll require a lot of court time and complex legal arguments, but... but... I NEED A JOB! I’m begging you, please!” As the closing statement of her argument, she collapses sobbing, hugging your leg.

Issue by Faehig

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

by **Barunia** » Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:55 pm

My issue was just approved - wish I'd copied it so I could post it here. Issue title "Food behind bars"

by **Askatopia** » Sat Oct 08, 2016 3:12 am

The Issue

After renowned food critic and criminal mastermind Hannibal Terwilliger published a book entitled Food Behind Bars: A Gourmet’s Journey through Askatopia’s Prisons, a debate has sprung up over the quality of food served to prisoners.

The Debate

1. “This is ridiculous!” fumes single mother of three Gertie Bakker, whose ex-husband is currently behind bars. “Here’s me struggling just to give my kids the basics, and he’s sitting in a nice warm cell with nothing to do all day but eat like a king! I say we stop this extravagance and redirect the funding into something more appropriate, like welfare for single parents. Prisoners should only be fed what they need to survive.”

2. “Oh come now, there’s no need to treat us like animals for the sake of a few misdemeanours,” says Mr. Terwilliger via a satellite link from an undisclosed minimum security prison. “We prisoners have rights too, you know. Oh what a cruel world we would live in, if a man can’t chow down on cordon bleu just because he’s behind bars. Now warden, can I have some fava beans and a nice chianti delivered to my cell? I’m starving.”

3. “Of course you have to feed prisoners, but what kind of food?” muses oblivious naturalist Sigourney Taffs while watering your plastic office plants. “It’s all these preservatives and cheap imported foods that have made these people violent in the first place! Why not establish prison farms and have inmates eat what they grow? Sure, it would tie up lots of fertile land, and there’s always the risk of an escape, but the benefits to society are worth it.”

4. “Well, look here, you’ve got all these mouths to feed, and you don’t want the expense?” queries Falala Pavlov, CEO of Disposable Fried Slug, one of Askatopia’s most popular fast food chains. “Looks like this here’s something the private sector can help you with, and by private sector I mean my company! Just grant us the exclusive right to provide catering in all of Askatopia’s prisons, and we’ll keep all those prisoners stuffed for a fraction of the cost! The government saves, the prisoners eat, and I cut out the compet-, er, provide a vital service to the community. It’s a win-win!”

Issue by The Socialist Federation of Barunia

Edited by Nation of Quebec

by **Candlewhisper Archive** » Sat Oct 08, 2016 12:14 pm

Ok, apologies. "Not My Idea" went live with text from one edit before the final version.

The stats were correct, but the text should be slightly amended from the spoiled version above. now fixed.

Opening: In the throes of an exceptionally lethargic news cycle,

Tolkein -> George JK Token

by **Arcoscephale** » Sat Oct 08, 2016 9:19 pm

This nation didn't get the fourth option for #604.

by **Drasnia** » Sat Oct 08, 2016 9:54 pm

Arcoscephale wrote:This nation didn't get the fourth option for #604.

That means you didn't meet a hidden requirement to get it.

by **Arcoscephale** » Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:35 pm

Drasnia wrote:That means you didn't meet a hidden requirement to get it.

I'm aware.
Was letting people know that there is one, so they know to keep an eye on it. It is easy to jumble notes on these multi-option issues if you don't notice that the options aren't always numbered the same. Has happened to my puppets quite a few times.

by **Trotterdam** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 3:21 pm

#606 In The Black

The Issue

Determined to make their point strongly, an intimidating gang of Customs Police Officers and Revenue officials have arrived at your front door with sacks full of junk: home-copied DVDs, knock-off imitation designer clothes and dodgy electronics gear. All these are illegally traded goods, seized today within a mile's distance of your own home. The black market is out of control, they say, circumventing both industrial standards and retail taxation.

The Debate

1. "We must break illegal trade with the direct application of brute force!" roars Revenue Officer @@RANDOMNAME@@, incandescent with rage. "Send in the police force! Send in SWAT teams! Destroy these outlaws and punish their customers! Undeclared trade is tax evasion, and tax evasion is rebellion. Crush the rebels!"

2. A cockney fellow in a long trench coat sidles up to you and whips it open in front of you. To your relief, the only thing he is exposing is a selection of fake watches hanging from the inner lining. "Cor blimey, guv'nor, the black market is just us geezers exercising a bit of cheeky chappy freedom! Duzzit do yer harm? No it don't! Duzzit make people chipper? Yes it does! Just have the old rozzers leave us in peace, and turn a blind eye or two to stuff falling off a lorry, and we'll all be laffin' our way to the bank. Now, would you like two Rowlex timepieces for the price of one?"

3. "He has a point. The black market's size is indicative of a free economy's response to government over-regulation." observes @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, a far-more respectable looking businessman, presenting you with some colourful line-graphs to support his argument. "Relax those regulations, and economies of scale will allow legitimate private industry to triumph, and the black market becomes unnecessary. The black market is just a symptom. Wage laws, bureaucratic red tape, excessive industrial standards: they're the real sickness."

Issue by: Gharoukannia
Edited by: Candlewhisper Archive

I haven't caught even a whiff of #605 yet. The editors may have something extra-special planned for it.

by **Gnejs** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:44 pm

Trotterdam wrote:I haven't caught even a whiff of #605 yet. The editors may have something extra-special planned for it.

Nope, it's out there, just low-validity so probably haven't popped up a lot yet.

NationStates Issues SPOILER ALERT

#597 - You Can’t Handle The Tooth

Issue 598: A Violet Trojan Horse

Issue #600: Making A House A Home

601-Lawyers on Trial

599-Dead in the Water

Issue 604: Food Behind Bars

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